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The next Solar Decathlon will be held Sept. 23–Oct. 2, 2011, at the National Mall’s West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C.

In honor of the U.S Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon -- which challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive -- we are profiling each of the 20 teams participating in the competition.

For this year’s Solar Decathlon, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is returning to the National Mall with the Re_home, which offers a more sustainable housing solution for communities following a natural disaster. According to the team -- who are aiming for a balance between good design and smart planning -- the Re_home responds to the physical and emotional needs of displaced families while still demonstrating the ways in which environmentally aware living can be incorporated into a community-led recovery effort.

According to the University of Illinois team, what makes the Re_home different from previous disaster relief housing is the flexibility of the home’s design. The Re-Home is more adaptable to the various lifestyles of disaster victims when compared to the typical mobile home style trailer commonly used in today’s disaster relief efforts. The Re_home offers an efficient and open floor plan that accommodates the various needs of many users. The floor plan was designed around one open area for public spaces and another area enclosed for private spaces, which encourages an open interaction between both interior and exterior spaces. This “flex space” allows the house to transition between a one and two bedroom home, and also gives occupants several ways to customize the space to their liking.

This rapid-response solution for families affected by natural disasters uses low-cost materials and a straightforward construction plan, and the Re_home’s modular design allows the home to be transported via trailer in two segments and erected quickly on-site. Its well-organized interior spaces, centralized, efficient appliances, and its ease of transport and construction make this solar-powered home a great, ready-to-deploy option for families as they rebuild after a disaster.

If disaster strikes, the house can be mobilized quickly to its new location, and assembled within several hours to effectively shelter a family of four. The home is then sealed by an insulated, double-layered building envelope that minimizes the transfer of heat and cold between the interior and exterior and drastically reduces the energy needs of the home. That means the home becomes a livable space the day it arrives, providing new shelter for disaster victims.

In the following days, the rest of the house can be assembled by members of the community. The home’s solar panels can be directed for appropriate sunlight angles – generating immediate electricity for the home – a critical issue for those affected by natural disasters when power might not be restored or available for many days or weeks. The Re_Home is also loaded with all-electric appliances, including a combination washer/dryer, refrigerator, dishwasher and a combination oven/grill/steamer.

Coming from Illinois, a state centrally located in a tornado-prone region, the Re_home Team hopes to be able to put their entry to use after the competition, which will take place on the National Mall’s West Potomac Park this fall. The Re_home could be offered to a family displaced by a tornado or other weather disaster, many of which roll through the state throughout the spring and early summer months every year.

For more information about the Re_home, visit the team’s website and blog. For more information about the Energy Department's Solar Decathlon, visit the website. You can also follow the competition real-time on the Solar Decathlon Facebook and Twitter pages.